The Early Days

When Bart Trybala, better known as Barber Bart, was a small boy growing up in the early 1980s in Krakow, Poland, he remembers his father telling him to rely on his hands - not on anyone else. It was around this time that he used to accompany his father to the old-fashioned neighborhood barbershop, where the barber made Bart and his father feel like members of the family - calling them by name, joking with them, taking care of them. And he used to watch the barber with awe - how he would shave his father with a straight razor, how he would use hot towels and massage his scalp to get his circulation flowing, how we would offer him a range of after-shave colognes, and how he would even shine his shoes while he was in the chair. It was as if he was transported back to another time, when life was easier and there were no cares - it was then that Bart decided he wanted to be a barber.

His Training

At age 15, Bart began an intensive three-year Master Barber program in Krakow, during which he trained with the best of the best - famous hairstylists who had won several national competitions.
It was during this time that Bart\'s talents were first recognized, and he quickly found work at some of the country\'s leading hair salons, including the best salon in Krakow, at the Forum Hotel, a five-star hotel. There, and working with some of the country\'s top talent, he honed his skills and learned the old-world services that would later become his hallmark. He also placed second in a national barber competition - and keeps his award placed on his wall.

Personal Tragedy Strikes

At age 18, just as Bart was graduating with honors from his Master Barber program, his father tragically passed away in a fatal accident.
Bart moved to Germany, and then to London to find higher-paying work, to help support his family.
During this time, friends, acquaintances and even strangers came to his aid and helped him through this difficult time. Asked now about that time in his life, Bart acknowledges that the experience made him a stronger person, and a better barber. "Inspiration is what makes a good barber, and having had the support and help from other people during that tough time has inspired me to help other people feel better about themselves through my contributions to them."

Barber Bart is Born

Bart moved to New York City in 1999, and worked at Chelsea Barbers for several years, and then decided to rely on his own hands and branch out on his own.
This time, though, he wanted to bring to New York something from his childhood, something missing in New York - an environment that transports you back to a carefree era, with old-world, classic service, but with a modern touch.
For instance, he offers some of the services he remembers as a boy from Poland, such as hot towels, straightedge razor shaving and a choice of cologne, but he also plans to offer other modern services, such as a pre-shave face steamer, neck massages and free haircuts on clients\' birthdays.
He has updated the barber experience and made it more convenient for clients, e.g. by allowing them to make appointments on-line (no phone appointments), displaying a rotating art gallery in the store, and by having evening hours.